Six Disciplines
Executing Change, Effectively

There is something about human nature that disallows people from pursuing an activity, in spite of knowing that it is right. It is most common with fitness programs, where people lose focus and energy either in the middle or much earlier. The biggest brunt of such nature is borne by enterprises which want to pursue organization-wide changes or introduce best practices into their working.

To ensure that their employees are turned into their programs, enterprises resort to various providers be it external coaches, HR service providers, consultants, and coaches to train them in best practices, leadership, and performance. Ohio-based Six Disciplines, aptly named, converges all these elements required to drive change management in organizations held together by technology, in one powerful solution. All these elements are merged to form common vision and value, which is referred to as Just-in-One focus.

Gary Harpst, an award-winning management author, found the company called Six Disciplines to plug the gap in management tech software which does not deal with people issues. “Employees should be engaged and attuned to organizational strategy to connect their hearts to the purpose; with holistic approach and profitability growth,” Harpst explains. The company charts a roadmap for successful programs across performance improvement, leadership development, and strategy implementation. The formula includes six disciplines—strategic vision, strategic change management, operational alignment, teamwork-driven execution, continuous growth and finally, organizational development.

Armed with 15 years of experience in the area, Six Disciplines ensures a realistic approach to change. They deal with common reasons for the failure of strategic programs like disengagement which happens when employees fail to see a clear picture of the purpose, and routine work which pulls down employees who are burdened with targets and do not have time to execute change. The company’s software reminds and encourages employees to apply best practices in action and supports competencies taught in programs. Apps streamline the process of setting goals and plans. Its platforms also automate reviewing and revising policies, allowing management programs to remain agile and engaging. Also, the company has a large network of coaches who refresh the program accordingly to ensure that they bring about sustainable change. Six Disciplines is the only company in the world to provide to provide end-to-end solutions.

Clients can adopt the program at any stage, but most processes start with workshops held for top 30 leaders to diagnose issues with strategy. Six Disciplines also helps companies with a long-term plan and dedicatedly revisits it at regular intervals. The company’s methodology of instruction also caters to engaging next-generation employees using socialization, gamification, and frequent communication. The method also allows for small adjustments in strategy to ensure that employees are committed to change.

In addition to success, the stickiness of Six Disciplines methods is high. A Cleveland-based equity capital growth fund which manages multiple companies, put one of its clients through the program. The success inspired them to expand it to all its clients in the portfolio. Later, the growth fund itself underwent the programme. Many of its clients turn winners at Baldrige award for best management practices. Coating company, Pro-tec is a decade-old client won the award, so did another Arizona-based company.

In spite of its successes, Six Disciplines continues to perfect its platform to ensure tighter integration between leadership development, performance management, strategy, and coaching. It also wants to expand its coaching network by 150 in the U.S. “We want to add a coach at every metro in the US. A coach should be available to a client within an hour’s drive,” says Harpst.